Could there be another Gathering within the next decade?

Transport and Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar has suggested another Gathering could be possible within the next 10 years.

“The Gathering, we always said, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think it would be wrong to repeat it too soon, but it will maybe happen again in seven or 10 years’ time," he said.

Speaking at the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin, the minister confirmed that the year-long event cost Irish tax payers €13 million over the last two years, and while no figures yet exist on how much revenue has been created, Varadkar has said the return will be a "multiple" of the cost.

The first eight months of 2013, Ireland saw an extra 291,000 visitors compared to last year, with visitors from the U.S. up by 16.5% and overall visitor numbers up by 6.5%, the Irish Mirror reports.

Here are some highlights of the success of the Gathering Ireland 2013: